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Meet the Funder:
The Development Bank Podcast
Welcome to Meet the Funder, the official podcast from the Development Bank of Wales. In this series, we shine a light on the wide range of finance options available to businesses across Wales, from micro loans and property development finance to equity investment and strategic funding support.
Each episode features conversations with our expert team, business leaders, and industry partners as we explore how tailored finance can unlock growth, spark innovation, and help businesses thrive.
Whether you're a start-up founder, growing SME, or looking to understand how funding can power your next move, Funded is here to guide you through Wales' evolving business finance landscape.
Episode One:
Micro Loans
Business News Wales editor Gemma Casey is joined by Nicola Edwards, Fund Manager, and Donna Strohmeyer, Investment Executive, both from the Development Bank of Wales, to explore recent changes to the bank’s micro loan offering. They discuss how micro loans can support early-stage startups as well as helping established businesses manage cash flow or invest in growth, and they consider how the changes are already making a difference.
Guests:
Nicola Edwards
Fund Manager
Development Bank of Wales
Donna Strohmeyer
Investment Executive Development Bank of Wales
Episode TWO:
Scaling Tourism in Wales – The Power of Strategic Investment
In this episode of Meet the Funder, the Development Bank of Wales podcast series, we explore how tourism businesses in Wales are scaling up, innovating, and creating impact with the help of the Wales Tourism Investment Fund (WTIF). From dog-friendly themed accommodation to heritage-inspired hospitality, we showcase real-world examples of how funding can fast-track business growth while supporting the Welsh economy.
Guests:
David Knight
Investment Executive
Development Bank of Wales
Sam Birdsell
Co-owner
Pitton Cross Farm
Geraldine Williams
Tourism Development Officer Swansea Council
Episode THREE:
Helping Businesses to Go Green
Guests:
The Development Bank of Wales’ Green Business Loan Scheme has been increased by £10 million to help accelerate the decarbonisation efforts of Welsh businesses. Host Bethan Cousins, New Business Director at the Development Bank of Wales, is joined by fund manager Nick Stork and Hugo Thompson and Joe Southall of Wizard Eco to consider the steps businesses are taking to cut energy use and move towards carbon zero.
Nick Stork
Fund Manager, New Investments
Development Bank of Wales
Joe Southall
Owner
Wizard Eco
Hugo Thompson
Owner
Wizard Eco
Episode Four:
Investing in Wales' Tech Ventures
Guests:
In Wales Tech Week, host Gemma Casey is joined by Duncan Gray, Technology Venture Investments Director at the Development Bank of Wales and Paul Abrahams, CEO of Reacta Healthcare, to explore the Bank’s strategic approach to tech investment and how seed funding, follow-on investment and access to its expert team can help tech firms thrive.
Duncan Gray
Technology Venture Investments Director
Development Bank of Wales
Paul Abrahams
CEO
Reacta Healthcare
Business News Wales is a Welsh-owned independent media and communications business with a team of journalists and storytellers located in all regions of Wales.
Our wide-ranging menu of platforms, communication services, and highly targeted distribution networks offers our clients a proven, strategically connected one-stop-shop solution for all regions and business sectors in Wales and beyond.